Did I fry the monitor

  • Thread starter Thread starter smackedass
  • Start date Start date
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smackedass

Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
 
smackedass said:
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
Click to expand...

In the shop we have monitors, keyboards and mice setup at all stations,
we then put customer PC on the bench and plug in the monitor,keyboard
and mice all the time without ever powering down the monitor first.

Danny,
 
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
Click to expand...

I take it you've confirmed it was the monitor, by trying it on another
computer?
 
smackedass said:
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
Click to expand...



It shouldn't cause any problems, and I have repaired video monitors
from the early '70s. The only thing likely to be damaged by improper
handling of the video connector is the EEROM that stores the PNP data,
but it doesn't matter if the monitor is on, or not.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
smackedass said:
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

It happened on your watch. Replace your customer's monitor,
free of charge.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com
 
I don't think its fried. Are you sure the problem doesn't lie in the card?
Some monitors leds blink when a video signal isn't detected. Also check for
bent or missing pins. I've seen that happen more than once!
 
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
Click to expand...

It may not be the monitor at all. Since the light is blinking, that
usually indicates that it is not receiving a signal. I would check
the video card, or like some of the other posts mentioned, check the
pins on the cable. You didn't mention if it was an onboard video or a
video card. If it is a video card, these sometimes get bumped and pop
out of the slot just enough that they stop working.
Try the monitor in question on a different computer. If it works, it
is not a monitor issue. Also, try a different monitor on the
customers computer. Once again, if the monitor works, it is not a
monitor problem.
I can't count how many times I had the video card pop out at the back
end, just enough, it caused no video.
If none of this works, blame it on sun spots.
 
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time". I.e.,
the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have catalyzed
the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
Click to expand...

It may not be the monitor at all. Since the light is blinking, that
usually indicates that it is not receiving a signal. I would check
the video card, or like some of the other posts mentioned, check the
pins on the cable. You didn't mention if it was an onboard video or a
video card. If it is a video card, these sometimes get bumped and pop
out of the slot just enough that they stop working.
Try the monitor in question on a different computer. If it works, it
is not a monitor issue. Also, try a different monitor on the
customers computer. CORRECTED... If the monitor doesn't work, it is
not a monitor problem.
I can't count how many times I had the video card pop out at the back
end, just enough, it caused no video.
If none of this works, blame it on sun spots.
 
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and unplugging
it?
Click to expand...

I'd think it more likely the monitor suffered ESD damage, if
you had actually unplugged the computer power cord (thus
removing it's grounding).

I've unplugged monitors still powered far too many times to
count, but there is some significant info missing like what
monitor this was.
 
I'd think it more likely the monitor suffered ESD damage, if
you had actually unplugged the computer power cord (thus
removing it's grounding).

I've unplugged monitors still powered far too many times to
count, but there is some significant info missing like what
monitor this was.
Click to expand...

Most monitors are grounded by their own 3-prong power cord, and I say
most, because if I say all, I'm sure someone will tell me there is a
monitor located in the far reaches of the world that is not grounded
by it's own power cord.

If I am repairing a computer, I usually never turn the monitor off
when I disconnect it from a computer.
 
smackedass said:
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut it
off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.
Click to expand...

I've been plugging and unplugging live monitors for many years and have
never
had the slightest problem...
Unless you hit it with a static electricity burst...it should not have been
harmed
 
Most monitors are grounded by their own 3-prong power cord, and I say
most, because if I say all, I'm sure someone will tell me there is a
monitor located in the far reaches of the world that is not grounded
by it's own power cord.
Click to expand...

That doesn't necessarily protect a monitor from ESD damage,
if the discharge is not to the connector shell or other
ground point on it.

Actually a ground on a device can even be an (enabler if not
really the "cause") of ESD damage, because it provides the
critical lower potential, path for this high voltage to
travel. The only remaining question is which parts of the
monitor would it cross on it's way to ground. It may be an
unlikely scenario, but then this kind of damage to a powered
monitor doesn't usually happen either, so "something" is
different.
 
That doesn't necessarily protect a monitor from ESD damage,
if the discharge is not to the connector shell or other
ground point on it.

Actually a ground on a device can even be an (enabler if not
really the "cause") of ESD damage, because it provides the
critical lower potential, path for this high voltage to
travel. The only remaining question is which parts of the
monitor would it cross on it's way to ground. It may be an
unlikely scenario, but then this kind of damage to a powered
monitor doesn't usually happen either, so "something" is
different.
Click to expand...

We could go on and on about ESD, but the fact is that unless the pins
were touched, I doubt that ESD played a factor in damaging the
monitor. I can't remember the last time I "accidentally" touched the
pins on a monitor connector while removing it from the back of a
computer.
ESP says you would have a better chance of ESD causing a fire while
pumping gas, which would require an EMT, than ESD damaging a monitor.
 
smackedass said:
Hello again,

I was working on a customer's computer the other day, swapping out modems,
network cards, etc. After each time that I shut the computer down, I
unplugged all of the peripherals, the power, etc. But I left the monitor
on, while I unplugged and plugged the monitor cable from and to the VGA
port.

You know where this is going.

After about the third or 4th reboot, the monitor stopped working. I shut
it off, and on again, the light just blinks, and keeps blinking.

Did I fry the monitor, by leaving it on while I was plugging and
unplugging it?

The analogy that I'm about to offer my customer, whose eyebrow is now
raised, is from one of Richard Pryor's comedy skits, when he talked about
his father suffering a fatal heart attack while having sex with a woman
thirty years younger than he. "He came and went, at the same time".
I.e., the heart attack was probably due, and while the activity may have
catalyzed the heart attack, it didn't actually cause it.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

smackedass
Click to expand...
I have had a loose pin that would slide back into the connector when plugged
into a computer, to say nothing about bent pins. Try pushing lightly on
each pin and see if one of them slides back into the connector. If it does
a light pull with needle nose pliers usually clicks it back into place.
 
Generally speaking, it's ok to plug in and unplug a monitor while it's
on. But that's a generalization; I've seen cases where there was AC
current leakage and you could see a spark as the monitor cable shell
touched the computer monitor socket, so all sorts of things can happen.

Obviously, try the monitor with another computer.
 
kony said:
That doesn't necessarily protect a monitor from ESD damage,
if the discharge is not to the connector shell or other
ground point on it.

Actually a ground on a device can even be an (enabler if not
really the "cause") of ESD damage, because it provides the
critical lower potential, path for this high voltage to
travel. The only remaining question is which parts of the
monitor would it cross on it's way to ground. It may be an
unlikely scenario, but then this kind of damage to a powered
monitor doesn't usually happen either, so "something" is
different.
Click to expand...


You do know that the video inputs have internal 75 ohm termination to
match the video board's output impedance, and that the other lines have
higher values, but are terminated? The least protected is the serial
data and clock lines used for P-N-P monitor ID EEROM. (The 24C08 is
typical memory for this)


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
It happened on your watch. Replace your customer's monitor,
free of charge.
Click to expand...

I just spoke to him on the phone, I actually seem to be more upset about it
than he is. But, I am going to offer to give him a $100 credit off of his
bill. The monitor is a Dell SE177FP, and it retails at $179 brand spanking
new. I don't think he won't be satisfied.

sa
 
I don't think its fried. Are you sure the problem doesn't lie in the card?
Some monitors leds blink when a video signal isn't detected. Also check
for
bent or missing pins. I've seen that happen more than once!
Click to expand...

I tried the monitor with another computer and cable. That was my hope, also.

sa
 
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